Systems, Devices, and/or Methods for Managing Sanitary Glove Removal

ABSTRACT

Certain exemplary embodiments can provide a glove gripper constructed to allow a glove wearing user to remove gloves substantially without contacting a contaminated surface of the glove with either the glove gripper or a skin surface of a wearing user. The glove gripper can have a general shape of a scalloped heart symbol when projected into two-dimensions. The scalloped heart symbol can have a convex curvature in a third dimension that is substantially perpendicular to the two-dimensions.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to, and incorporates by reference herein in its entirety, pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/081057 (Attorney Docket No. 1069-01), filed 18 Nov. 2014.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A wide variety of potential practical and useful embodiments will be more readily understood through the following detailed description of certain exemplary embodiments, with reference to the accompanying exemplary drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective image of an exemplary embodiment of a system 1000;

FIG. 2 is a perspective image of an exemplary embodiment of a system 2000;

FIG. 3 is a perspective image of an exemplary embodiment of a system 3000;

FIG. 4 is a perspective image of an exemplary embodiment of a system 4000; and

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an exemplary embodiment of a method 5000.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Certain exemplary embodiments can provide a glove gripper constructed to allow a glove wearing user to remove gloves substantially without contacting a contaminated surface of the glove with either the glove gripper or a skin surface of a wearing user. The glove gripper can have a general shape of a scalloped heart symbol when projected into two-dimensions. The scalloped heart symbol can have a convex curvature in a third dimension that is substantially perpendicular to the two-dimensions.

Certain exemplary embodiments provide a system, which can be constructed to facilitate the removal of garments, such as gloves, from a wearing human. Certain medical applications make removal of garments contaminated by potentially biohazardous substances without contacting sterile surfaces and/or objects with the potentially biohazardous substances a desirable outcome. For example, medical personnel can don surgical gloves, which can be used to perform various services for a diseased or potentially diseased patient. For example, the patient might have, or be suspected to have, any contagious disease such as HIV/aids, pneumonia, tuberculosis, infectious diarrhea, malaria, rabies, Marburg hemorrhagic fever, Ebola hemorrhagic fever, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, and/or influenza, etc. Medical personnel that have donned garments that have been exposed to potentially biohazardous substances need to be able to safely remove those garments while minimizing exposure of themselves and others to the potentially biohazardous substances. Gloves can be particularly challenging to remove without exposing personnel to potentially biohazardous substances.

Certain exemplary embodiments provide a device, system, and/or method for the removal of garments, such as gloves, substantially without contacting a contaminated surface of the garment with the device and/or system. For example, a human wearing medical gloves can position a glove bearing hand such that an apex of a garment gripper slides under an edge of the garment to substantially only contact a surface of the garment in contact with the skin of the human. By exerting a pulling action, the human can remove the garment for disposal in a biohazard receptacle without having any skin contact with a contaminated surface of the garment. When properly used, the device and/or system can allow the user to remove garments substantially without contaminating human skin and/or a surface of the device and/or system. The device and/or system can be constructed to be sterilized with relative ease because of shape and materials of construction.

FIG. 1 is a perspective image of an exemplary embodiment of a system 1000, which can comprise a first garment remover 1100 and/or a second garment remover 1200. In the illustrated embodiment, first garment remover 1100 comprises a first garment gripper 1180, which is oriented such that an apex 1190 of first garment gripper 1180 points in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to a mounting plane 1300 of system 1000. First garment remover 1100 can be constructed to be mounted on a vertical surface (as illustrated in FIG. 1), such that a human wearing a glove can position a glove bearing hand substantially perpendicular to mounting plane 1300.

First garment remover 1100 can comprise:

-   -   first garment gripper 1180;     -   a base 1120, which can be constructed to be coupled via one or         more fasteners to mounting plane 1300;     -   a shaft 1160, which can operatively couple base 1120 to first         garment gripper 1180; and/or     -   a stiffener 1140, which can be constructed to resist flexure of         shaft 1160 when a human is using first garment remover 1100 to         remove garments.

In certain exemplary embodiments, shaft 1160 can be releasably coupled to base 1120 and/or gripper 1180. In such embodiments, shaft 1160 can be removed from base 1120 and/or gripper 1180 for sterilization and/or replacement.

In certain exemplary embodiments, shaft 1160 can be telescopic and can be constructed to be extended or retracted as needed. In such embodiments, a locking mechanism, such as a pinned arrangement, can be used to hold shaft 1160 in an extended position.

Second garment remover 1200 comprises a second garment gripper 1280, which is oriented such that an apex 1290 of second garment gripper 1280 points in a direction that is substantially parallel to a mounting plane 1300 of system 1000. The orientation of second garment gripper 1280 relative to mounting plane 1300 can allow second garment remover 1200 to be mounted on a mounting plane 1300, which is substantially parallel to a surface of the earth, such that a human wearing a glove can position a glove bearing hand substantially parallel to mounting plane 1300.

First garment remover 1100 and/or second garment remover 1200 can be constructed of one or more materials that are substantially rigid and can be sterilized with relative ease. The illustrated embodiment of FIG. 1 is constructed of stainless steel. Other embodiments can be constructed using materials such as a polymer, polyvinyl chloride, aluminum, polyoxymethylene, ethylene chlorotrifluoroethylene copolymer, ethylene tetrafluoroethylene, fluorinated ethylene propylene, high-density polyethylene, perfluoroalkoxy, polypropylene, and/or polytetrafluoroethylene, etc.

As illustrated in FIG. 1; in certain exemplary embodiments, first garment gripper 1180 and second garment gripper 1280 can have a general shape of a scalloped heart symbol when projected onto a planar surface. Parametrically, such two-dimensional shapes can be expressed as:

$\begin{pmatrix} {16\; \sin^{3}t} \\ {{13\; \cos \; t} - {5\; \cos \; 2t} - {2\; \cos \; 3t} - {\cos \; 4\; t}} \end{pmatrix}\quad$

As illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, for first garment gripper 1180 and second garment gripper 1280, the gripper is formed to have a convex curvature of the scalloped heart symbol in a third dimension. The tip of the scalloped heart symbol can be rounded as illustrated. Other embodiments can use variations of the shape of the illustrated first garment gripper 1180 and second garment gripper 1280. For example, first garment gripper 1180 and second garment gripper 1280 can have a triangular shape. Certain exemplary embodiments can have a tip, such as apex 1190 of first garment gripper 1180, which can be sufficiently rounded to avoid tearing a garment, such as a glove, when the garment is engaged by first garment gripper 1180. Similarly, if a substantially triangular shape is used for first garment gripper 1180, an apex of the triangular shape can be similarly rounded.

In certain exemplary embodiments, first garment gripper 1180 and second garment gripper 1280 can be glove grippers constructed to allow a glove wearing user to remove gloves substantially without contacting a contaminated surface of the glove with either first garment gripper 1180 and second garment gripper 1280 or a skin surface of a wearing user. First garment gripper 1180 and second garment gripper 1280 can have a general shape of a scalloped heart symbol when projected into two-dimensions. The scalloped heart symbol shape can have a convex curvature in a third dimension that is substantially perpendicular to the two-dimensions.

Base 1120 can be constructed to be coupled via one or more fasteners to mounting plane 1300. Shaft 1160 can be operatively coupled to base 1120 and to first garment gripper 1180 and second garment gripper 1280. Shaft 1160 can be constructed to position first garment gripper 1180 and second garment gripper 1280 a predetermined distance away from base 1120. Stiffener 1140 can be constructed to resist flexure of shaft 1160 when a human is using first garment gripper 1180 and second garment gripper 1280 to remove gloves. An apex of first garment gripper 1180 can point in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to mounting plane 1300 of system 1000. An apex of second garment gripper 1280 can point in a direction that is substantially parallel to mounting plane 1300 of system 1000. Shaft 1160 can be releasably coupled to first garment gripper 1180 and second garment gripper 1280. Shaft 1160 can be fixedly coupled to first garment gripper 1180 and second garment gripper 1280. Shaft 1160 can be telescopic and can be constructed to be extended and retracted. One or more portions of system 1000 can comprise stainless steel. First garment gripper 1180 and/or second garment gripper 1280 cam comprise a rounded tip of the scalloped heart symbol shape.

FIG. 2 is a perspective image of an exemplary embodiment of a system 2000, which illustrates a second perspective view of system 1000 described in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective image of an exemplary embodiment of a system 3000, and represents a close-up view of a portion of first garment remover 1100 as illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective image of an exemplary embodiment of a system 4000, which illustrates a second perspective view of system 1000 described in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an exemplary embodiment of a method 5000. At activity 5100, a human can don garments, such as medical garments. At activity 5200, a garment remover can be fabricated. At activity 5300, the garment remover can be installed, such as by mounting the garment remover on a mounting plane. At activity 5400, the human can remove the garments using the garment remover. In certain exemplary embodiments, a glove can be caused to be removed via a glove gripper. The glove gripper can constructed to allow a glove wearing user to remove gloves substantially without contacting a contaminated surface of the glove with either the glove gripper or a skin surface of a wearing user.

At activity 5500, the garments can be disposed of, such as using accepted standards for disposing of biohazardous substances.

Definitions

When the following terms are used substantively herein, the accompanying definitions apply. These terms and definitions are presented without prejudice, and, consistent with the application, the right to redefine these terms during the prosecution of this application or any application claiming priority hereto is reserved. For the purpose of interpreting a claim of any patent that claims priority hereto, each definition (or redefined term if an original definition was amended during the prosecution of that patent), functions as a clear and unambiguous disavowal of the subject matter outside of that definition.

-   -   a—at least one.     -   activity—an action, act, step, and/or process or portion         thereof.     -   adapter—a device used to effect operative compatibility between         different parts of one or more pieces of an apparatus or system.     -   and/or—either in conjunction with or in alternative to.     -   apex—an end or tip of something.     -   apparatus—an appliance or device for a particular purpose     -   associate—to join, connect together, and/or relate.     -   base—a support upon which a thing stands or rests.     -   can—is capable of, in at least some embodiments.     -   cause—to produce an effect.     -   comprising—including but not limited to.     -   connect—to join or fasten together.     -   constructed to—made suitable or fit for a specific use or         situation.     -   contact—to touch.     -   contaminate—to make impure or unsuitable by contact or mixture         with something unclean or bad.     -   convex—having a surface that is curved or rounded outward.     -   coupleable—capable of being joined, connected, and/or linked         together.     -   coupling—linking in some fashion.     -   curvature—a condition where something has a non-planar bend.     -   define—to establish the outline, form, or structure of.     -   device—a machine, manufacture, and/or collection thereof.     -   direction—a position on a line extending from a first point         toward a predetermined second point.     -   distance—the extent of space between two things.     -   extend—to stretch out.     -   fabricate—to construct.     -   fastener—one (or more) restraint that attaches to, extends         through, penetrates, and/or holds something. For example, a         fastener can be one (or more) bolt and nut assembly, rivet,         weldment, nail, screw, peg, staple, clip, buckle, clasp, clamp,         hook and loop assembly, adhesive, and/or plastic push rivet,         etc.     -   fixedly—fastened, attached, or placed so as to be firm and not         readily non-destructively removable.     -   flexure—the act of bending.     -   garment—an article of clothing.     -   general—of or relating to all belonging to a category.     -   glove—a covering for a human hand made with a separate sheath         for each finger and for the thumb.     -   gripper—something that can hold or control something else.     -   install—to connect or set in position and prepare for use.     -   may—is allowed and/or permitted to, in at least some         embodiments.     -   method—a process, procedure, and/or collection of related         activities for accomplishing something.     -   mounting plane—something that has a substantially flat surface         upon which a garment removal system can be coupled to.     -   operatively—engaged in a manner that allows something to be         effective for a purpose.     -   parallel—lying in substantially the same plane but never meeting         over a large distance.     -   perpendicular—meeting at substantially a right angle.     -   plurality—the state of being plural and/or more than one.     -   position—to place in a particular location.     -   predetermined—established in advance.     -   provide—to furnish, supply, give, and/or make available.     -   releasably—constructed to be nondestructively removed.     -   remove—to shift from a place or position to another.     -   resist—to oppose.     -   retract—to draw back into something.     -   rounded—made to have a curved shape.     -   set—a related plurality.     -   scalloped heart symbol—parametrically, having a two-dimensional         shapes that is expressed as:

$\begin{pmatrix} {16\; \sin^{3}t} \\ {{13\; \cos \; t} - {5\; \cos \; 2t} - {2\; \cos \; 3t} - {\cos \; 4\; t}} \end{pmatrix}{\quad.}$

-   -   shaft—a comparatively straight handle serving as a means of         coupling a first portion of a device to a second portion of the         device.     -   shape—a quality of a distinct object in having an external         outline of a specific form.     -   skin—the external covering or integument of a human body.     -   stainless steel—alloy steel containing approximately twelve         percent or more chromium, so as to be resistant to rust and         attack from various chemicals.     -   stiffener—something that makes a device and/or system more         rigid.     -   substantially—to a great extent or degree.     -   support—to bear the weight of, especially from below.     -   surface—an exterior boundary of something.     -   system—a collection of mechanisms, devices, machines, articles         of manufacture, processes, data, and/or instructions, the         collection designed to perform one or more specific functions.     -   telescopic—consisting of parts that slide one within another and         are thus capable of being extended or shortened.     -   third dimension—the additional dimension by which a solid object         is distinguished from a planar projection of itself or from any         planar object.     -   tip—an end of something.     -   two-dimensions—having the dimensions of height and width only.     -   wear—to have on one's body as a covering.     -   without—lacking.     -   via—by way of and/or utilizing.

Note

Still other substantially and specifically practical and useful embodiments will become readily apparent to those skilled in this art from reading the above-recited and/or herein-included detailed description and/or drawings of certain exemplary embodiments. It should be understood that numerous variations, modifications, and additional embodiments are possible, and accordingly, all such variations, modifications, and embodiments are to be regarded as being within the scope of this application.

Thus, regardless of the content of any portion (e.g., title, field, background, summary, description, abstract, drawing figure, etc.) of this application, unless clearly specified to the contrary, such as via explicit definition, assertion, or argument, with respect to any claim, whether of this application and/or any claim of any application claiming priority hereto, and whether originally presented or otherwise:

-   -   there is no requirement for the inclusion of any particular         described or illustrated characteristic, function, activity, or         element, any particular sequence of activities, or any         particular interrelationship of elements;     -   no characteristic, function, activity, or element is         “essential”;     -   any elements can be integrated, segregated, and/or duplicated;     -   any activity can be repeated, any activity can be performed by         multiple entities, and/or any activity can be performed in         multiple jurisdictions; and     -   any activity or element can be specifically excluded, the         sequence of activities can vary, and/or the interrelationship of         elements can vary.

Moreover, when any number or range is described herein, unless clearly stated otherwise, that number or range is approximate. When any range is described herein, unless clearly stated otherwise, that range includes all values therein and all subranges therein. For example, if a range of 1 to 10 is described, that range includes all values therebetween, such as for example, 1.1, 2.5, 3.335, 5, 6.179, 8.9999, etc., and includes all subranges therebetween, such as for example, 1 to 3.65, 2.8 to 8.14, 1.93 to 9, etc.

When any claim element is followed by a drawing element number, that drawing element number is exemplary and non-limiting on claim scope. No claim of this application is intended to invoke paragraph six of 35 USC 112 unless the precise phrase “means for” is followed by a gerund.

Any information in any material (e.g., a United States patent, United States patent application, book, article, etc.) that has been incorporated by reference herein, is only incorporated by reference to the extent that no conflict exists between such information and the other statements and drawings set forth herein. In the event of such conflict, including a conflict that would render invalid any claim herein or seeking priority hereto, then any such conflicting information in such material is specifically not incorporated by reference herein.

Accordingly, every portion (e.g., title, field, background, summary, description, abstract, drawing figure, etc.) of this application, other than the claims themselves, is to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive, and the scope of subject matter protected by any patent that issues based on this application is defined only by the claims of that patent. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A system comprising: a glove gripper constructed to allow a glove wearing user to remove gloves substantially without contacting a contaminated surface of said glove with either said glove gripper or a skin surface of a wearing user, said glove gripper having a general shape of a scalloped heart symbol when projected into two-dimensions; said scalloped heart symbol shape having a convex curvature in a third dimension that is substantially perpendicular to said two-dimensions; and a base constructed to be coupled via one or more fasteners to a mounting plane; and a shaft operatively coupled to said base and to said glove gripper, said shaft constructed to position said glove gripper a predetermined distance away from said base.
 2. The system of claim 1, further comprising: a stiffener constructed to resist flexure of said shaft when a human is using said glove gripper to remove gloves.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein: an apex of said glove gripper points in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to a mounting plane of said system.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein: an apex of said glove gripper points in a direction that is substantially parallel to a mounting plane of said system.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein: said shaft is releasably coupled to said glove gripper.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein: said shaft is fixedly coupled to said glove gripper.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein: said shaft is telescopic and is constructed to be extended and retracted.
 8. The system of claim 1, wherein: said system comprises stainless steel.
 9. The system of claim 1, wherein: said glove gripper comprises a rounded tip of said scalloped heart symbol shape.
 10. A method comprising a plurality of activities, comprising: causing a glove to be removed via a glove gripper, said glove gripper constructed to allow a glove wearing user to remove gloves substantially without contacting a contaminated surface of said glove with either said glove gripper or a skin surface of a wearing user.
 11. The method of claim 10, further comprising: fabricating said glove gripper. 